Apparatus for intertwisting wires



Dec. 25, 1956 A. F. FICK ETAL 2,775,256

APPARATUS FOR INTERTWISTING WIRES Filed Jan. 27, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 1 I a? t Z 7e W 7a A '1. 23 i i-- ,9! I -HH Fla. 2 H I i 1 l i 1 :I l I: 47 y J J Li A, l

xA/vi/vrofis A. F/c r 63 R I'IASMUSSEA/ H. 6'; 77M YERLx/E Dec. 25, 1956 A. F. FICK ET AL APPARATUS FOR INTERTWISTING WIRES Filed Jan. 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. R. RASMUSSEN H. 0. THA wmdm Dec. 25, 1956 A. F. FICK ETAL A 2,775,266

APPARATUS FOR INTERTWISTING WIRES Filed Jan. 27, 195.4 s Sheets-Sheet s AFF/cvr (.RRASMUSSEN H0.7'HAYR,JR.

2,775,266 APPARATUS non INTERTWISTING WIRES Application January 27, 1954, Serial No. 406,404

3 Claims. (Cl. 140-415 This invention relates to an apparatus for intertwisting wires.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiective wire twisting apparatus for interconnecting two sections of wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire twisting apparatus for use in making wire hoops.

Anapparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a slotted twisting pinion, a rack associated therewith, and a pair of clamping devices mounted on opposite sides of the twisting pinion whereby a wire which has been cutto a predetermined size may be formed into. a loop. with predetermined lengths of the end portions thereof disposedin overlapping relation to each other to form a pair of straight parallel sections of wire which are placed into theslotted pinion and the jaws of the clamping devices. Actuatingmeans are provided under control of a manually initiated control mechanism for actuating the wire clamping devices to clamp and hold the ends of the overlapping sections of wire against rotation and for moving the rack through a predetermined distance in either direction to cause the pinion to twist the intermediate portion of the sections of wire through A a predetermined number of turns to interconnect the ends thereof and thus form a hoop, and for releasing the clamping devices after the ends of the wire have been twisted together.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevational view through one of the clamping devices taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. Z isa fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view of the overlapping ends of the looped wire after they have been twisted; and

Fig. 9 is a View of a wire hoop formed by the present apparatus shown encircling a coil of metal strip material.

The present wire twisting apparatus is designed for use in forming a wire hoop 10 from a predetermined length of wire 11 which is bent into a closedloop with predetermined lengths of the ends thereof disposed in overlapping relation to each other to form a pair of straight overlapping sections 12 of wire (Fig. the end portions 13 of which sections are gripped and held against rotation while the intermediate portion of the straight sections are United States Patent 0 twisted about each other as shown at 14 (Fig. 8) to interconnect the end sections 12. The hoops 10 are adapted to be placed around a coil of metal strip material 17 (Fig. 9) to prevent the strip from unwinding.

The apparatus comprises a twisting gear 20 having a pair of journals 21 mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 22 secured in a vertical cylindrical housing 23. The twisting gear 20 has a slot 24 extending from one side thereof for receiving the pair of overlapping sections 12 of the wire therein and the pinion is positioned with the slot 24 thereof disposed horizontally in alignment with cooperating slots 25 and 26 in the bearings 22 and the housing 23, respectively, to permit the pair of straight overlapping sections 12 of wire to be inserted and removed therefrom. The intermediate longitudinal portion of the slot 24 in the gear 20 is only wide enough to receive a single wire therein and serves to engage a portion of a pair of wires placed in the slot in. parallel side-by-side relation to each other and rotate said portion of the wires about each other in response to rotation of the gear 20. The end portions of the slot 24 of the gear 20 and the slots 25 and 26 are of greater width to permit the wires to be twisted about each other.

The housing 23 has a flange 29 which is secured to a. supporting plate 30, which in turn is fastened to a bench 31 'for supporting the apparatus. An actuating member 33 which is guided for vertical movement in the housing 23 has a rack bar 34 fixed thereto which meshes with the twisting gear 20 for imparting rotation thereto. The member 33 is connected at its lower end to a piston rod 36 of a piston 37 mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder 38 of a fluid actuator 39 for imparting reciprocable movement through a predetermined distance to the rack 34 for rotating the twisting pinion through a predetermined number of complete revolutions. The stroke of the rack in an upward direction is limited by an adjustable stop screw 46 secured to the end of a tubular cap 41 fixed to the upper end of the housing 2-3 and the piston is stopped at the other end of the stroke by a spacer block at the lower end of the cylinder.

Air or other fluid under pressure is supplied selectively to opposite ends of the cylinder 38 through branch lines 43 and 44 and a solenoid actuated valve 45. The solenoid valve 45 has solenoid coils 46 and 47 on opposite ends thereof which are alternately energized to cause the shifting of the valve from one position to another to efiect the actuation in opposite directions of the piston 37 and the rack 34 connected thereto.

The coil 46 is connected in series with normally open switches 48 and 49 across current supply lines 5051 (Fig. 2) which are connected to the secondary of a transformer 52, the primary of which is connected to a suitable powerline 53. The solenoid coil 47 is connected in series with a normally open switch 54 and the switch 49 across the lines 56 and 51. The switch 48 is mounted on a bracket 56 secured to the bench 31 behind the housing 23 and engages a plunger 57 which is slidably mounted in the housing and is adapted to be actuated by a cam 58 on the member 33 when the rack 34 is in its upper position to efiect the movement of the switch 48 to its closed position. The switch 54 is mounted on a bracket 60 beneath the bench 27 in engagement with one end of a plunger 61 which is slidably mounted in the housing 23 and is adapted to be moved outwardly by the cam 58 when the rack is in its lower position to effect the movement of the switch 54 to its closed position.

The switch 49, which is mounted on the floor and is adapted to be actuated by a foot pedal 63, is of the type that is closed only momentarily in response to the down stroke of the pedal and is quickly restored to its normal open position. The switches 48 and 54 remain closed individually as long as the cam 58 holds them in such position. With the parts in the position shown in Fig'. 1 the switches 48 and 49 are open and the switch 54 is closed and in response to the actuation of the foot pedal 63 the switch 49 is momentarily closed, completing the circuit through the solenoid 47 to cause the shifting of the solenoid valve 45 to establish communication between the supply line 42 and the line ,44, thereby eflecting the upward stroke of the piston 37 and rack 34 and the rotation of the twisting gear 20 through three complete revolutions. As the rack 34 and the cam 51 move upwardly the switch 54 is opened and when the rack reaches its upper position the cam 51 closes the switch 48, and in response to another actuation of the foot pedal 63 the solenoid coil 46 is energized, causing the solenoid valve to shift and eflect the downward move ment of the rack and the rotation of the twisting gear 20 through three complete revolutions. Thus, for each actuation of the foot pedal 63 the rack is actuated through one stroke and the gear 20 is rotated through three revolutions.

A pair of clamping devices 70-70 are mounted on plates 71 on opposite sides of the housing 23 and the twisting pinion 20 for clamping opposite ends of the pair of overlapping sections 12 of wires to hold them against rotation while the gear 20 is rotated to twist the intermediate portion of the overlapping sections of wire. Each of the clamping devices comprises a block 72 secured to the plate 71 and having an upper surface 73 aligned horizontally with the lower portion of the slots 24, 25, and 26 in the gear, bearings, and housing, respectively, and slots 74 in the plates 71 for receiving and supporting the end portions of the pair of overlapping sections 12 of the wire therein. The block 72 forms a lower stationary jaw or anvil of the clamping device 70 which has a composite upper movable jaw 75 supported and actuated by a fluid actuator 76 secured to the plate 71.

The composite upper jaw comprises a lower gripping block 77 and an upper block 78, the former being fixed to the lower ends of a pair of rods 79 which have upper headed portions slidably mounted in counterbored apertures in the upper block 78 to support the lower block 77 for limited movement relative thereto. A spring 80 extending between the blocks stresses the lower block 77 downwardly. The block 78 is secured to the lower end of a piston rod 82 of a piston 83 mounted for vertical reciprocation within the cylinder 84 of the fluid actuator 76, whichcylinder 84 is fixed to the plate 71. By means of the two-part construction of the composite clamping jaw 75 with the spring 80 interposed therein between the two blocks, the lower clamping blockof each clamping device is yieldably mounted, and in response to the down ward movement of the jaw 75 the lower clamping block 79 serves to initially yieldably engage the sections of wire and grip them without imparting any undue deformation thereto and as the upper block continues its travel it engages the lower block 57 and forces it downwardly to. tightly clamp the wires against the lower jaw.

The piston 82 is moved upwardly by a spring 86 and is moved downwardly by compressed air or other fluid admitted through a pipeline 87, the pipelines 87 from both actuators 75 being connected to a line 88, which inturn isconnected to a solenoid actuated valve 90, into which the air supply line 42 is connected.

The solenoid valve 90 has solenoid coils 91 and 92 mounted on opposite ends thereof for actuating the valve from one position to another in response to alternate energization of the solenoids to effect the actuation of the upper clamping jaw 75. The coil 91 is connected in series with a normally open switch 93 across the current supply lines 5051. The switch 93 is disposed adjacent the switch 49 and is positioned to to be actuated by the foot pedal 63-prior to the actuation of the switch 49. The-coil 92' is connected in series parallel with a pair of normally open switches 94 and 95 across the lines 50--51 as shown in Fig. 2. The switch 94 is mounted on the bracket 56 adjacent the switch 48 and in engagement with the plunger 57 for actuation thereby and the switch 95 is mounted on the bracket 60 adjacent the switch 54 and in engagement with the plunger 61 for actuation thereby. The switches 93, 94, and 95 are of the type which are closedmomentarily in response to the actuation thereof and are quickly restored to their open position. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 and in response to the actuation of the foot pedal 63, the switch 93 is momentarily closed, completing the circuit through the solenoid coil 91 and causing the shifting of the solenoid coil to connect fiuid pressure to the actuators 75 and thereby causing the clamping devices 70 to clamp and hold the end portions of the overlapping sections 12 of wire against rotation. During the actuation of the foot pedal and subsequent to the closing of the switch 93, the switch 49 is closed, causing the movement of the rack 34 and the cam 51 from one position to another and the rotation of the twisting gear through three revolutions, and as the cam 51 moves from one position to the other and arrives at the end of its stroke it en gages and momentarily closes one of the switches 94, 95, as for example, switch 94, in response to upward movement thereby momentarily completing a circuit through and energizing the coil 92 causing the solenoid valve 90 to be shifted and effecting the release of the clamping devices 70.

Thus, to make a hoop, a wire of predetermined length I is bent into a loop with the ends thereof positioned in overlapping relation to each other to form a pair of straight overlapping sections of a predetermined length which sections are placed into the slot 24 of the gear 20 and between the stationary and movable jaws. of the clamping devices 70 after which the foot pedal 63 is actuated to cause the clamping devices 70 to grip the ends of the straight wire sections 12 and hold them against rotation while the twisting gear 20 is rotated through three revolutions to twist the intermediate portion of the straight sections 12 about themselves to interconnect them, after which the clamping devices 70 are released and the completed hoop may be removed from the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A wire twisting apparatus for interconnecting two sections of wire comprising a gear having a slot for receiving the intermediate portion of a pair of straight overlapping sections of wire, a pair of clamping devices for. receiving the endv portions of said pair of overlapping sections of wire, means for supporting said gear for rotation and for supporting said clamping device-s in fixed relation to each other on opposite sides of said gear,-said clamping devices each comprising a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, and means for actuating the clamping devices to effect the movement of said movable jaw to closed position to clamp the end portions of said pair of overlapping sections of wire against the fixed jaw, a rack meshing with said gear and guided for reciprocation by said sup porting means, means for actuating said rack through two strokes of predetermined length alternately in opposite directions to rotate said gear through a predetermined number of revolutions to twist the intermediate portion of a pair of overlapping sections of Wire about each other for each stroke of the rack whereby one pair of wires may be twisted during the movement of the rack in one direction and another pair of wires may be twisted during the movement of the rack in the opposite direction, and control means for effecting the actuation of said movable clamping jaws to closed position and the actuation of said rack through one stroke in a predetermined sequence and for effecting the movement of said movable jaws from closed position on completion of the movement of the rack through said stroke.

2. A wire twisting apparatus for interconnecting two wires comprising a rotatable twisting gear having a slot for receiving the intermediate portions of a pair of straight overlapping Wires, a pair of Wire gripping devices for receiving the end portions of said overlapping wires, means for supporting the gear for rotation and for supporting said wire gripping devices in fixed relation to each other on opposite sides of said gear, a rack mounted for vertical reciprocation on said supporting means for actuating said gear, means for reciprocating said rack through two predetermined strokes in opposite directions for rotating said gear alternately in opposite directions through a predetermined number of revolutions whereby one pair of wires may be twisted during movement of the rack in one direction and another pair of wires may be twisted during movement of the rack in the opposite direction, means for actuating said wire gripping devices to closed position to grip the end portion of the wires, and control means for effecting the sequential actuation of said wire gripping devices to said closed position to grip the wires and to actuate said rack through one stroke to effect the twisting of the wires and to move said wire gripping devices to open position on completion of the wire twisting operation.

3. A wire twisting apparatus for interconnecting two wires comprising a rotatable twisting gear having a slot for receiving the intermediate portions of a pair of straight overlapping wires, a pair of wire gripping devices for receiving the end portions of said overlapping wires, means for supporting the gear for rotation and for supporting said wire gripping devices in fixed relation to each other on opposite sides of said gear, a rack mounted for reciprocation on said supporting means for actuating said gear, means for reciprocating said rack through two predetermined strokes in opposite directions to rotate said gear alternately in opposite directions through a predetermined number of revolutions whereby one pair of wires may be twisted during movement of the rack in one direction and another pair of wires may be twisted during movement of the rack in the opposite direction, means for actuating said Wire gripping devices to closed position to grip the end portion of the wires, control means for effecting the sequential actuation of said wire gripping devices to said closed position to grip the wires and to actuate said rack through one stroke to effect the twisting of the wires and to move said wire gripping devices to open position on completion of the wire twisting operation, said wire gripping devices each comprising a fixed jaw on which said wires are laid, a movable jaw mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed jaw, a member yieldably mounted on the movable jaw for movement therewith and for limited movement relative thereto, and means for stressing said member for movement. toward said fixed jaw for yieldably engaging and clamping the wires against the fixed jaw in response to actuation of said movable jaw to its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,578 Dice Dec. 24, 1901 746,442 Bates Dec. 8, 1903 875,654 Christensen Dec. 31, 1907 1,079,075 Truman et a1 Nov. 18, 1913 1,457,691 Bull June 5, 1923 1,836,497 Phelps et a1 Dec. 15, 1931 

